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Postdoctoral Scholar - Script Encoding Initiative - Linguistics Department

Position overview

Position title: Postdoc-Employee
Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf. The current salary range for this position is $69,073-$82,836.

Percent time: 100

Anticipated start: January 2026

Position duration: 2 years

Application Window
Open date: October 15, 2025

Next review date: Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Script Encoding Initiative (SEI) in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral scholar position. The postdoc will contribute to an NSF-funded project on the politics of digitizing newly-invented writing systems.

About SEI:
The Script Encoding Initiative (SEI) is a research group based in Berkeley's Department of Linguistics that works to support the inclusion of the world's writing systems in digital technologies. Since 2002, SEI has partnered with the Unicode Consortium, technology companies, scholars, and international user communities to document scripts and develop proposals for their digital representation. Of the 170+ scripts currently supported on digital devices, SEI has contributed to the successful encoding of more than 120. SEI also serves as a hub for research and education on the politics of writing systems and digital standards. Visit sei.berkeley.edu to learn more.

Project Description
The NSF-funded project, "Script Legitimacy in Digital Environments: Investigating Silicon Valley's Position as a Global Language Authority" examines how the Unicode Consortium evaluates proposals to encode modern "neographies" - writing systems invented within the last century. Neographies often lack the institutional backing and demonstrated stability of older scripts, raising unique questions about what establishes a script as legitimate and ready for encoding. Via a mixture of archival research, interviews, and participant observation, the project investigates how technical decision-making intersects with language policy and authority in the digital age. Researchers will primarily carry out data collection in the Bay Area, CA and may have the opportunity to travel to sites in South Asia and/or West Africa (to be finalized based on team expertise). The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with Research Director Anushah Hossain and the SEI team.

Position Responsibilities

• Conduct archival research and qualitative data analysis on Unicode proposals and decision-making.
• Participate in ethnographic fieldwork, including interviews and observation, in - designated field sites.
• Contribute to SEI's ongoing activities, including research on scripts, collaboration with technology and type design industries, and public-facing dissemination.
• Produce publications and reports based on project findings.
• Present research in academic and professional forums.
• Mentor undergraduate researchers engaged in SEI's work.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD degree (or equivalent international degree) or enrollment in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• PhD degree (or equivalent international degree)
• No more than 3-years post PhD research experience

Preferred qualifications

• PhD in Anthropology, Linguistics, Science and Technology Studies, Area studies, or a related field, completed within the last three years at the time of appointment
• Training in qualitative research methods (e.g., interviewing, participant observation, archival analysis).
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Writing systems
  • Language politics
  • Modern South Asia
  • Modern West Africa
  • Text technologies and digital standards
• Familiarity with digitization, the Unicode Standard, or technical standards-making
• Prior fieldwork experience in South Asia or West Africa
• Experience working across disciplines
• Strong record of writing and presentation
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a small research team and contribute to SEI's outreach and partnerships

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - 2-3 pages detailing research background and relevance to this project
• Writing Sample - Please provide one writing sample of related work, (preferably <10,000 words, published or unpublished)

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05167

Help contact: callievue@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05167